- Mercedes-Benz will introduce bidirectional charging from 2026 with the all-electric GLC.
- The MB.Charge Home system integrates EVs, wallbox, tariffs and grid access, enabling smart charging and energy feedback.
- Initial rollout covers Germany, France and the UK, with additional markets planned thereafter.
Mercedes-Benz is flipping the switch on how we think about EVs.
From 2026, its next wave of electric models, led by the recently unveiled all-electric GLC, will not just soak up power but also push it back into your home or even the public grid.
In other words, your driveway could soon double as a mini power station.
From garage to grid
The tech arrives under the banner of MB.Charge Home, a digital ecosystem that wraps together the car, a bidirectional wallbox, an energy-market link and a renewable tariff - supplied by Mercedes’ partner The Mobility House.
The idea is simple: let the car charge when electricity is cheap or clean, then release stored energy back when demand (and prices) spike. The CLA family will follow the GLC in adopting the system, with Germany, France and the UK first to get it before other markets roll out step by step.
Power plays and paybacks
Two versions of MB.Charge are planned. The base Intelligent package automatically times charging to cheap, low-demand hours - think overnight or when renewables are abundant.
The Pro Intelligent option unlocks bidirectional functionality, meaning energy can flow from the car’s battery into the grid during peak periods. Drivers are remunerated for that supply, trimming household bills while helping stabilise the grid. All of this is handled behind the scenes via a smartphone app, so owners don’t need an engineering degree to cash in.
“With MB.Charge Home, our customers receive a coordinated complete package … all charging processes at home are carried out using 100% electricity from renewable energies,” says Franz Reiner, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Mobility.
EVs as energy allies
The system isn’t just about cheaper bills. Mercedes-Benz says the tech will help balance the wider power network, storing excess wind and solar when supply is high and feeding it back when the grid is under pressure. That’s extra storage capacity without building new infrastructure. There is, however, a catch, as regulatory frameworks in some countries still need to catch up before full vehicle-to-grid use is unlocked.
If all goes to plan, by the middle of the decade, your Mercedes EV could do more than get you from A to B. It might also keep the lights on at home - and pay you back for the privilege.